Not a Volkswagen, not a Porsche. Quick, not fast. Well designed, not beautiful. The Porsche 914 is a stew of contradictions, but it was solidly successful, notching sales of 119,000 over the production run from 1969 through 1976. Here on craigslist is a well-kept 1975 914 equipped with the 1.8-liter engine; the asking price is $15,000 firm. This spiffy example is located in Portland, Oregon, with an owner who has enjoyed it for six years. Maintenance records are available, and according to the listing, the seller has attended to the car’s every need. Thanks for the tip, Curvette!
By the mid 1960s, Porsche and Volkswagen each had incentives to create a new sports car. Porsche wanted to replace the 912, and VW was done with the Karmann Ghia. A prototype was ready in 1968; a joint venture formed a marketing company to sell the car. The first 914-4s were sold with a 1.7-liter flat four-cylinder installed just behind the cabin atop a five-speed transaxle. By 1975, displacement of the base engine rose to 1.8 liters, though a 2.0-liter was also available. Cars with the 1.8 attained 60 mph in a bit under 12 seconds. All the four-cylinder engines were fuel-injected. This car has a rebuilt transaxle, an electronic distributor, and new fuel lines. The Bosch injectors have been cleaned. The underside is nearly as clean as the topside; this owner clearly dotes on his car.
If you’ve never driven a 914, the first thing that will impress you is the broad cabin. With no transmission tunnel, there’s a lot of space in here. The seats don’t look like much, but they’re very comfortable. Coco mats improve the appearance here – but be aware: that material is thick and can interfere with the motion of the pedals if not fitted just right. Those cup holders are an aftermarket item. The seller notes that “everything works!” No word about rust, but boy, the rear trunk is clean, and photos in the listing show the front is just as nice.
The targa top is a worthy compromise between a fixed roof and a convertible; it stows neatly in the rear trunk. By 1975, the 914 had been caught in the 5 mph bumper regulatory net. Porsche solved the problem by installing these large rubber protrusions onto the otherwise nimble sports car; many owners “backdate” to the slender chrome versions available from 1969 to 1972. Driving a 914 provides a lot of bang for the buck, once you become accustomed to what can be a reluctant shifting mechanism (think “coax”, don’t force). I can understand this seller’s “firm” asking price; given what you might pay for others on the market, $15k is fair.
I’ll have mine in British racing green please. I remember when these were new and in the road in the nicer parts of town, and wanting one .
This looks like a very well cared for machine. These cars are a hoot to drive. Best of luck to the new owner!
Our last Porsche was a ’74 914 with the 1.8 engine. After we finished a shell up build we had a 135 hp engine, AC street and autocross car that was a ton of fun. As nice as this one is I’d go for backdating the bumpers and putting more power in that 1.8.
That is one nice 914 with the Fuch wheels and the stance really sets it apart. Agree with backdating the bumpers on this one the stock ones do these cars no favors.
I’ve always liked the 914’s looks. And the author is right. The 5 mph bumpers ruined it’s appearances. Rust was the bane of these, so finding one as solid and clean as this car is rare indeed. If I was to look for one of these, the version with the 2.0 six cylinder is the one to find, but if it’s as solid as this little ripper, it will cost big money.
I’ve had several and miss them but not getting down in them! We’ve had a couple discussions recently here on BF about some others that have come up recently. These are like driving refined go-karts! Mine was in the “lime green” and ran like a “scalded monkey” – just a great driver for the money!
Porsche enthusiasts HATE these cars which makes seeing their rise in value even more appealing.
This is a nice example that appears to be well sorted and has lots of life left in it.
Surprised they didn’t list this on BAT given the number of 914’s that have sold on that platform recently.
I’ve had two of these, the first one was rusty, the second one perfect. Really, really fun to drive on a twisty road. Corners like it’s stuck to the ground. Predictable. It’s got two trunks, the top elegantly stores in one of them, and two people can actually take a long trip with lots of stuff stored. The five speed shifter is kind of vague, but you get the hang of it. I just eventually got tired of crawling under the car to adjust the valves.
I put the water cooled VW hydraulic lifters in our 1.8 so we wouldn’t have to adjust the valves and enable the engine to rev up to 8,000 rpm.
nice ride, hopefully she gets a good home!
I’ve owned two of them – a ’70 and a ’74. I’d jump on this, but I’m eighty-seven years old, and the good times are in the past:) Best handler ever:)